MONKSTOWN, a parish, in the barony of KERRYCURRIHY, county of CORK, and
province of MUNSTER, on the new line of road from Passage to Cork city, and on
the western shore of the river Lee, at its confluence with the sea in Cork
harbour; containing, with part of the post-town of Passage West, 2199
inhabitants, of which number, 698 are in the village of Monkstown.

It derives its name from a small establishment of Benedictine moks, called
Legan abbey, belonging to the priory of St. John's, Waterford, which was formed
here in the fourteenth century, on a grant of land made to the original
establishment by the family of McCarthy, being part of their manor of
Marmullane; of the buildings there are no traces. A house in the Elizabethan
style was built on the side of a glen, in 1636, by Eustace Gould, called
Monkstown castle; it is a gloomy structure, and was once rented by the
government for barracks, but it is now used as a store house by the proprietor,
or lessee, under Lords Longford and De Vesci, who, by the marriage of two
heiresses, became possessed of this property, which had been forfeited by the
Archdeacons, or Goulds, from their attachment to the cause of Jas. II. in the
revolution of 1688.

The parish is bounded on the east and south east by the river Lee and the
harbour of Cove (Cobh), it comprises 1546 statute acres, of which about 100 are
scattered woodland and arnamental grounds, 60 rock, and the remainder arable and
pasture; the annual value is about £1500. The land is moderately well
cultivated, though at a great expense, and the soil being fertile is productive
of good crops of corn and grass. The rocks are of clay slate, and, near
Carrigmahon, are precipitous and interesting; the steepest is called the Giant's
Stairs, being a rocky promontory with receding ledges of rock, having the
appearance of a rude staircase when viewed from the opposite bank of the Lee.
There are several quarries of a red and brown stone, useful for many purposes,
the former being chiefly used for lining limekilns. The river Lee affords every
facility for water carriage, and here is excellent anchorage for vessels of all
sizes. The village, which has a penny post to Cork, comprises a great number of
detached villas and cottages, many being new and very handsome, paricularly
twelve beautiful marine villas recently built close to the shore; they are
constructed in the pure Elizabethan style, and are chiefly occupied by
respectable families as bathing-lodges, for which purpose the village is most
favourably situated. It is built on the sides of a deep glen, which is thickly
clothed with beautiful and thriving plantations, much increasing the natural
beauty of the scene; the prospect is very extensive, taking in the woods of
Ballybricken, Rostellan, and Prospect; the islands of Hawlbowling, the Rock, and
Spike, with their numerous forts, dep√¥ts, arsenals, and magazines; Ringskiddy,
crowned by its martello tower; and the numerous vessels in the harbour.

Among the elegant residences scattered over the parish are Monkstown Castle,
that of R. B. Shaw, Esq.; Rock Lodge, of J. Galway, Esq.; Carrigmahon, of De
Courcy O'Grady, Esq.; Rockville, of J. Taylor, Esq.; Bellevue, of N. S. Parker,
Esq.; and the glebe-house, of the Rev. Alex. Stuart, besides several very
beautiful houses in the portion of the town of Passage that is in the parish,
which, by means of the new road, has become one place with Passage. This road
was designed by Robert Shaw, Esq., it winds round the base of all the bold and
wooded hills, only a few feet above the level of the highest tides, uniting
Cork, Douglas, Passage, Monkstown, Carrigaline, and Kinsale; the estimated cost
was £2700, one third of which was to be paid by the barony, the remainder by the
county.

The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Cork and in the patronage of Lord
De Vesci, the income of the vicar is £50 per ann., payable out of the estate of
Monkstown, and secured by the two noble proprietors. The glebe-house, with three
acres of land, formerly the residence of Mich. Westropp, Esq., is held by lease
for ever from Robt. B. Shaw, Esq., at £25 per ann., derivable from Primate
Boulter's augmentation fund. The church, which stands on a picturesque
elevation, is a cruciform edifice in the early English style, with a tower and
spire 70 feet high, at the east end; it was built of hewn limestone, in 1832, at
an expense of £950, raised by subscriptions from the patrons and others; S.
Hollingsworth, Esq., contributed £350, and the noble proprietors of the estate
£100. It contains a fine organ and gallery; the west window is of stained glass,
exhibiting the armorial bearings of the principal subscribers. The bell has on
it this inscription "Monkstown Protestant church, erected by voluntary
contributions, collected in Ireland and England by Gerrard Callaghan, Esq., M.P.
for Cork, and the Rev. A. G. H. Hollingsworth. The first Protestant church
erected since the Reformation. Lord Longford and Lord De Vesci gave the
endowment, Gerrard Callaghan, Esq., of Monkstown gave the glebe in perpetuity;
A. G. H. Hollingsworth, the first Protestant incumbent; William Hill of Cork,
architect. The church completed March, 1832. Robert Shaw and Wm. Andrews,
churchwardens."

In the Roman Catholic divisions the parish is annexed to West Passage and
part of Carrigaline, the parishioners attending the chapel at Shanbally.

The parochial and infants' schools are in Passage; they were founded by
subscription in 1836, on land presented by W. Parker, Esq., to be held so long
as they shall continue scriptural schools; the parochial school house is very
handsome, and will accommodate about 250 children; it is open to all children of
Monkstown and Passage, and is supported by subscription. Besides these there are
three private schools, in which are about 60 children.

A parochial library has been established for the use of the poor, and an
Indigent Room Keepers Society has been formed; both are supported by
subscriptions. There is a bequest of £10 per ann. made by Mrs. Andrews, to the
church to commence after the decease of her husband. Within the demesne of
Monkstown Castle, on the side of the glen, are the ruins of a small chapel,
which was the last retreat of a few monks from the abbey of St. Mary, Bath; it
was subsequently repaired and appropriated by the Archdeacon family as a
domestic chapel. Numerous Danish forts, or raths, are scattered over the parish;
and on an elevated situation a circle of very large stones, partly sunk in the
earth, and placed upright, are supposed to be the remains of a druidical altar.
Crystals of Irish diamond, very clear and transparent, are occasionally found
here; and there is a chalybeate spring.